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(No'MofleL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. J. 0. SMITH & C. GRASSER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS UNDERPRESSURE.

Patented July 23, 1889.

FIG

W A w Q m SQ a N. PETERS. Fhulmlhhcgmpher. Washinglwn. DJ;

'(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.J. J. 0. SMITH & O. GRASSER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS UNDER PRESSURE.

Patented July 23, 1889. FIG n N. PETERS, Phuwumo n nzr. Wnhinginn, D4 C.

(No Model.) r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. J. 0. SMITH & 0. GRASSER.

APPARATUS FOR GASTING METALS UNDER PRESSURE.

Patented July 23, 1889.

FIG III N. PETERS. Fholv-Lil og phnr, wmin nm D. a

UNrrE STATE JOHN .IOS. CHARLES SMITH AND CHARLES GRASSER, OF PASSAIC,NEW JER- SEY,ASSIGNORS TO THE SMITH BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS UNDER PRESSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,696, dated July 23,1889. Application filed February 16, 1888. Serial No. 264,189. (Nomodel.) Patented in England June 30, 1887, N0. 9,322-

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown'that we, J OHN J osEPH CHARLES SMITH and CHARLES GRASSER,citizens of the United States, residing at Passaic, in the 5 county ofPassaic and State of New Jersey,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forCasting Metals under Pressure, (for which Letters Patent have beenobtained in England, No. 9,322, dated June 30, 1887,) of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The subject of our invention is an apparatus for casting metals underpressure, con-- structed with a metal receptacle open at top T andmounted in a vertical position on a sliding platform, by which means itis readily moved into position for receiving a charge of molten metaland then into the position beneath the molds for forcing the metal intothem, the said metal receptacle being mounted upon a hydraulic ram,connected by a flexible tube with an accumulator or other source ofhydraulic pressure. The ram-piston is surmounted by a non'conducting cla2 5 disk, and this by a packing of asbestus, which is thus interposedbetween the piston and the clay disk and the molten metal in thereceptacle. The walls of the cylindrical receptacle for the molten metalare also lined on the inside with asbestus. This constitutes afire-proof material, while by its fibrous character and tenacity it isfree from liability to become disintegrated and mix with the moltenmetal. The molds are arranged in a suitable flask upon a platform abovethe metal receptacle and hydraulic ram, the said flask being depressedby a screw against the action of supporting-springs, which, when thescrew is retracted, lift the flask above the metal receptacle to permitthe latter to be removed into position for filling and restored into itsoperative position. The metal receptacle and the flask are each made intwo parts, hinged together by a vertical joint and fastened at theirfreeedges bysuitable screwbolts inserted in open slots in projectingflanges, so that the parts may be quickly and securely clamped togetherand again released at the proper times.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a vertical section of myimproved apparatus, drawn through the axial or central lines. Fig. II isa vertical section of the same, also drawn through the axial or centralline, but in a plane at right angles to that shown in Fig. I. Figs. III,IV, V, and VI are crosssections of the same, drawn on lines 3 3, 4t 4, 55, and 6 6, respectively, of Figs. I and II.

In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters ofreference.

a, Figs. I and II, represents a strong base or platform, to which twovertical columns I) b are fixed, which latter carry the crosshead 0,cross guide-bar cl, and table 6, to which vertical motion is given. 5

The base or platform a, is provided with a table f, which is fitted toslide to and fro in a horizontal direction in dovetail or other guidesto. Motion is imparted to this sliding table by means of a rack f,gear-wheel g, and lever or hand-wheel h, attached to the outer end ofthe shaft h, to the center of which the gearwheel 9 is fixed. To thesliding table f the cylinder tof ahydraulic ramis attached. Thiscylinder 2' is provided on its upper end with a broad flange i, forminga plat-form. On this platform 'i is supported and fixed a cylinder j.This cylinder is formed in two parts,which are hinged together at j onone side thereof. On the other side each of these halves has a flange j'by means of which the two halves may be held together firmly by the aidof three hinged bolts j, which work in openended slots formed in theflanges 7' By means of this arrangement the two halves of the cylinder jmay readily be separated from each other by turning them upon theirhinged jointj', as occasion may require. This cylinderj serves as thereceptacle for the fluid metal,to which mechanical pressure can beapplied by means of the piston i of the hydraulic rain 1', which acts onan intervening I clay disk 7' The cylinder j is provided with anon-conducting lining 3' which prevents the chilling of the fluid metalwhen poured into the cylinder j. The chilling of the fluid metal isprevented long enough by the lining to enable the said fluid metal to beforced into the molds. The lining 3' is formed of asbestus sheets, whichare rolled into cylindrical shape, of a size to fit the interior of theiron cylinder This asbestus cylindrical lining as also the asbestus diskj and burnt-clay disk j, is inserted in position before the two halvesof the cylinder j are closed and fastened together. Both the clay disk3' and asbestus disk j fit snugly in the cylinder j and tightly againstthe lower end of the asbestus cylindrical lining j thereby forming aperfeet packing against the escape of the fluid metal when pressure isapplied thereto.

It will be seen that by reason of the flexibility of the asbestus liningwhen the piston is operated the lining is compressed thereby and curlsor gathers up at the bottom, the sides of the lining being kept fromcreasing or breaking partly by the pressure of the molten metal.

The piston 2' of the hydraulic ram extends even at its lowest position alittle into the cylinder and forms the support for the clay disk 7' Thetable 6 is movable vertically by means of the springs 70, surroundingthe columns b, and can be forced down to the position shown in thedrawings by means of the screw Z. On the table 6, and fastened theretoby the hinge-bolt m, is a cylindrical mold casing or flask m. Thiscasing or flask m is made in two halves capable of being separated fromeach other by turning them on the hinge-bolt m and of being fastenedrapidly and securely together by means of the hinged bolts m acting incombination with open-ended slots formed in the flanges m This casing orflask m is for the purpose of holding the molds firmly, so as to preventthe bursting of the same when they are filled with fluid metal underpressure. The table 6 is movable vertically for the purpose of raisingand lowering the mold casing or flask we when required.

The springs 1c act to press the table e upward and hold it at any point,while by means of the screw Z, acting through the cover m and easing orflask m, it may be depressed, and by means of the asbestus-sheet packing7 between the molten metal in the cylinder j and the mold-receptacle 772form a tight connection between the two.

It is essential that the n1old-casing, when charged with empty moldsready for casting, be so arranged as to permit of a quick and tightconnection with the cylinderj containing the fluidmetal, and that theplatform or sliding table 1 must be capable of being quickly relieved,so that it may be readily moved in and out to enable the cylinder j tobe supplied with fluid metal and to permit of a rapid and tightconnection between the cylinder j containing the fluid metal and thecasing or flask m containing the molds to be filled.

WVe will now describe the mode of operation of our improved apparatus.By raising the screw Z the table e and mold-receptacle m will also riseby the action of the springs 70. This movement will permit the slidingtable f, together with the hydraulic ram t'and metal receptacle j, to bemoved out from their central or normal position by means of the lever orhand-wheel h,.gear-wheel g, and rack f, which motion brings the metalreceptacle j into suitable position to be filled with molten metal. Whenthis is done, the sliding table f is replaced in its central or normalposition in the apparatus, together with the ram i and metal receptaclef. Then the screwl is rotated, so as to depress the mold casing or flaskm and table 6 onto the open end of the metal receptacle j, so as to makea tight connection between the two by the aid of the asbestus packingdisk f. The hydraulic ram 'i has a valve and flexible connection-tube 2'which is in connection with a hydraulic accumulator under a pressure ofabout one hundred pounds to the square inch. As soon as the ramz' andmetal receptacle j are in proper position and firmly connected with themolds, as described, the valve is opened to admit the water from theaccumulator into the ram, which causes the ram-piston t to move andexert pressure on the clay disk j, which in its turn acts on the fluidmetal in the cylinder j, thereby forcing it into the molds through theproper gates m at the same rate and pressure as the water enters thecylinder 1' of the ram. The pressure is kept up until the metal hassolidified. \Vhen the metal in the mold has fully set, the screw Z isrotated, so as to raise the cover m from the mold-casing m. The latterand the metal receptacle j are then opened and the whole charge iseasily removed.

It should be here stated that more fluid metal must be put into thecylinder j than is required to fill the molds, so that the ram-piston imay continue to act on the fluid metal after the molds are filled andproduce the desired pressure.

Our improved apparatus possesses the following advantages:

First. The cylinder or receptacle for the fluid metal, being made in twoparts hinged together, is adapted to be opened or parted longitudinallyto permit the ready removal of the residual charge for cooling.

Second. The non-conducting lining, being made of fibrous, fire-proof,and flexible material, holds together and is not liable to be comedisintegrated and mixed with the metal charge during the motion of thepiston, as in the case of linings of clay and plumbago or likematerials.

Third. The vertical position of the metal receptacle and the readinesswith which it is moved into and out of position for use afford thegreatest facility for supplying it with a charge of molten metal andforcing this into the mold, while the asbestus packing disk and liningserve as a complete and perfect guard against leakage.

Having thus described our invention, the

IOC

following is what We claim as new therein and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. In a machine for casting metals under pressure, the combination ofthe hydraulic ram '11, a metal receptacle j, both arranged on a slidingplatform, and an elevated mold, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The combination of the elevated moldreceptable m, table 6, cylinderj, piston i asbest-us lining 9' asbestus disk j, covering the head ofthe ram-piston i and the asbestus partition j, provided with acontracted gate and interposed between the mold in the receptacle m andthe metal in the receptacle j, all substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

3. The combination of the mold-receptacle m, formed in two parts, hingedtogether and resting on a vertically-movable table e, and a-metalreceptacle 9' anda hydraulic ram i, both mounted on ahorizontally-sliding platform, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination of the movable table 6 and mold-receptacle m, bothmovable vertically by means of spring and screw, and a movable cover forreceptacle m, adapted to be raised therefrom by said screw,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

J OHNJ OS. CHARLES SMITH. CHARLES GRASSER.

\Vitnesses:

THos. M. MOORE,- W. W. Soo'rr.

